Research indicates a genetic connection to excessive levels of a hunger producing hormone; information that may help determine the best procedure for an individual patient

Los Angeles, CA, August 13, 2013 – Dr. Michael Feiz has had great success performing weight loss surgery on countless patients. However, the renowned bariatric surgeon has noticed that while a less invasive lap band procedure might achieve excellent results with some patients, it is not always sufficient. That's why Dr. Feiz has been at the forefront in performing gastric sleeve surgery, which removes a region of the stomach called the fundus, the portion of the body primarily responsible for the production of a hormone known as ghrelin.

Ghrelin is known to be related to the excessive but nearly irresistible urges to eat that drive many obese people, but a recent study from the United Kingdom has found that people with a variation of a particular gene have more of the hormone in their blood than others. The presence or absence of the FTO gene indicates that roughly one-sixth of the population is more prone to severe obesity and will be especially likely to benefit from a gastric sleeve procedure over another operation.

The new study from the University College of London, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and King's College London Institute of Psychiatry has received international attention as a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against obesity. While researchers have long known that tendencies towards obesity are genetic, the precise nature of the genetic link has remained unclear. With the link between the FTO gene and the production of ghrelin established, the pathway to effective treatment for weight loss patients being treated by Dr. Feiz is becoming clearer. As time goes on, it will become easier for patients to identify whether or not their particular case of obesity is directly related to ghrelin and, therefore, if the removal of the fundus is medically indicated.

Whatever the roots of a particular patient's obesity, contacting Dr. Feiz & Associates is one of the best choices a person suffering from severe obesity can make. While not every patient is a candidate for a bariatric procedure, weight loss surgery can make all the difference. As an enormous risk factor for such conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, obesity is a potentially life-threatening illness. A bariatric procedure from a highly respected surgeon such as Dr. Feiz is, for many people, essential for improving both the length and the quality of their life.

For patients who have often spent years trying to control their obesity with traditional reduced calorie diets and increased exercise, will power and better health habits are clearly not enough. The new revelations about the genetic component of obesity and its connection to ghrelin means that even more patients will benefit from a solution with Dr. Feiz's help over the coming months and years.

To learn more about the available bariatric procedures, please reach Dr. Feiz & Associates at www.DrFeiz.com or by phone at 877-678-2127 to inquire about a free educational seminar.

Further Reading

A new set of studies out says bariatric surgery completely reversed Type 2 diabetes in 75 percent of patients. In cases where the bariatric surgery was more extreme, the percentage for people who completely reversed the disease rose to 95 percent. In fact, the results were so immediate; doctors say some people were able to stop taking insulin as early as three days following the surgery.

Many gastric bypass patients undergo bariatric surgery to alleviate and eliminate some of the symptoms of obesity. High blood pressure, an increased risk for diabetes and stroke, heart problems and heart failure are some of the effects of carrying excess weight, and gastric bypass surgery is often the only option for those who are severely overweight or obese. A new study suggests that gastric bypass surgery can reduce blood pressure significantly because this type of bariatric surgery helps to improve the efficiency of the kidneys after eating and drinking.

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